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Business association urges more downtown events, marketing and coordinated street closures as foot traffic falls
Summary
The Narberth Business Association presented concerns about declining foot traffic, rising rents and a cluster of vacancies on Haverford Avenue. The association asked council to consider more night‑time events, temporary street closures and coordinated marketing to support local retailers.
A representative of the Narberth Business Association told borough council that the downtown is in transition and that the greatest immediate problem is reduced foot traffic and rising rents for small storefronts. The presenter said the association is exploring more night‑time events, pop‑up markets, social‑media marketing and temporary street closures to bring more customers into the center of town.
“ We have... a lack of foot traffic in the downtown,” the presenter said, describing closures on the south side of Haverford Avenue and noting the effect of construction and economic changes on small, locally owned businesses. He said association members want more events that attract adults as well as families — for example larger First Friday nights, night markets and weekday evening activations — and asked whether the borough would be willing to close portions of Haverford Avenue for curated events.
Councilmembers and staff discussed logistics, including SEPTA bus reroutes and emergency–services access. Staff and several councilmembers said occasional closures are feasible and supported pilot events (for example extending a farmers‑market closure into an evening First Friday). The council asked the association and staff to bring specific proposals with dates and operational plans so the borough can assess police, public works and traffic needs.
The borough also noted existing help to downtown businesses: $60,000 budget support for the Narberth Business Association and the Narberth public‑art facades program run by an artist, Emily Stewart. The business presenter said the association recently hired a social‑media contractor on a short test budget and that the association will expand marketing and consider coordination with local brokers to recruit retailers as vacancies resolve.
